This is a quirky book, and I love quirky. It was also very poignant at times, with a unique premise that was executed very well. Jane and Dan are having marriage problems and decide to go out for dinner on the evening of their 19th anniversary. While dining out, they're taken hostage and find themselves living the plot of Jane's latest book.

I loved how original this book was. It immediately grabbed my attention and never let me go. It kept me guessing until the end, perfectly balancing the funny with the touching moments. The characters are relatable and true to life. Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship, especially those of a certain age, will see something of themselves in Jane and Dan.

The pacing was great, and I had to keep flipping pages to see what would happen next. There are plenty of unexpected twists and surprising reveals. I do have to mention that over-the-top usually isn't for me, but here, it works and works well. It's absurd at times, but I just embraced it and enjoyed the ride. What a delightful reading experience this was, and it was very entertaining, especially towards the end. If you enjoy books that are fun(ny) and thought-provoking, this is the book for you.

This was my second read by the author, I loved The Invisible Husband of Frick Island and I have The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise on my TBR, I must bump it up.

Ah, date night—the perfect time for overpriced entrées, forced smiles, and, in Jane’s case, asking for a divorce. But surprise! Instead of quietly nuking their marriage over goose barnacles, Jane and Dan get taken hostage by a group of eco-activists who may or may not have read Jane’s failed novel like it was a how-to guide. Because nothing says romance like armed environmentalists and the sudden realization that your husband might actually have read your book.

Let’s start with the good: this book is undeniably entertaining. The hostage situation unfolds with just the right mix of absurdity and tension, and Jane’s dry wit keeps the narrative afloat even when her life (and marriage) are sinking faster than the polar ice caps—oh wait, sorry, I’m getting into their rhetoric now. The banter between Jane and Dan is sharp, and watching them navigate their involuntary couples therapy session amid eco-terrorists is undeniably fun.

Now, the not-so-good: The climate change message is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face. Yes, we get it—the world is burning, humans are trash, and our grandchildren will be fighting over bottled water like it’s gold. But when the book pauses every few pages to shove another doomsday PSA down my throat, I start feeling less like a reader and more like I’m being held hostage alongside the characters. I came here for marital drama and comedic crime hijinks, not an Environmental Science 101 lecture.

Overall, Dan and Jane at the End of the World is a solid, quirky read with strong character dynamics and a plot that keeps things moving. If you can handle the heavy-handed climate messaging, there’s plenty to enjoy. But if you’re looking for a break from existential dread? Maybe pick something with less end-of-the-world, and more end-of-the-argument-over-who-left-the-toilet-seat-all-the-way-down. (iykyk)

To say the least, Jane is less than satisfied with her life - her dull, chafing marriage, her failed career as an author with a book that returned more copies than it ever sold, her kids are on the cusp of adulthood and don't want much to do with her - it's just not what she had envisioned. She's decided that on their 19th wedding anniversary, after they go to dinner at the ultra schmancy, exclusive, $2,000-per-meal La Fin du Monde restaurant (a far cry from their typical Macaroni Grill anniversary dinner), she's going to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

In the middle of the second course of surprisingly delectable goose barnacles, an underground environmental rights activist group bursts into the restaurant and takes everyone hostage. And, oddly enough, as events begin to unfold, they are uncannily parallel to the events in Jane's failed novel.

This literary inception in the book is something I relished as a reader, especially as Jane's novel sold less than 500 copies and there's NO WAY that these climate change activists have read her book...is there? (Dan couldn't confirm because he probably didn't read it. ) Droll and witty without being over-the-top, it was fun to be dropped in to this story and I could mentally envision it as if it was a movie. I wouldn't consider it a Romantic Comedy or Romance - more of piece of literary fiction.

However, I think what I enjoyed most about the book was Colleen Oakley's expert descriptions of marriage and motherhood from middle age. I know some readers have said they felt like they couldn't relate to Jane as a character - but I could. Jane's deep dissatisfaction with her life, parenting and marriage are louder echoes of what many 30 to 50 year old women silently feel in the roles they've chosen or fallen in to with their lives: "The monotony of it--it's exhausting. For eighteen years, I've been keeping up with all the things, the schedules and the doctor's appointments and the practices and the field trips and the permission slips and the friends and grocery shopping and the music lessons and the meals... it's all so overwhelming. Literally overwhelming; it overwhelms me to the point that I feel like I've lost myself." The mental load of motherhood, and sometimes marriage, is draining--especially when it's taken for granted and unnoticed. I liked the realistic portrayal of this in the book, of where it brings women who have given up their selves and have been living for others, whether unintentionally, or intentionally. And more than the complexities introduced by climate change, cryptocurrency, activism, and the 1% wealthy elite living off the exploitation of others, society and the world's natural resources, this portrayal of the "unlikable" and unhappy Jane is the resonant commentary that readers need to take away from the book - both from where she begins and especially how her perspective on her life evolves as the situation progresses throughout the book.

Thank you to #Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #JaneandDanattheEndoftheWorld

Celebrating their 19th anniversary Jane & Dan are at a crossroads in their marriage. When a hostage situation takes place during their dinner at an exclusive restaurant, Jane & Dan will need to not only face their own issues but also the kidnappers.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World was just a pure joy to read! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to grab this book since I’d been in a reading rut, but this was the perfect pick me up! While I didn’t love Jane, I did love the complex relationship Oakley was able to paint for us. Getting the story from both Jane and Dan was exactly what the story needed and with the short chapters helped to move the plot along quickly.

With a unique (though slightly outlandish) plot, Colleen Oakley has written a winner in my book! This book is perfect for fans of stories such as Finlay Donovan is Killing It and if you like a good laugh. I highly recommend going in blind and just letting the story go where it takes you!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is out now! Huge thank you to Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my:

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3.5 stars rounded up. Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a chaotically good time. We meet the eponymous couple when they’re headed out the door for their nineteenth anniversary celebration at La Fin du Monde, an upscale restaurant high on a California cliff. But Jane doesn’t feel like celebrating, because she is planning to ask Dan for a divorce – and she figures why draw it out, so she drops the news during the first course of their meal. Before Dan can even formulate a response, however, a group of armed activists bursts into the dining room, taking the entire restaurant hostage. And as events unfold, Jane starts to realize that the group’s entire plan seems to be lifted straight from her failed first novel.

I’ve never read a book quite like this before. Jane and Dan reads like women’s fiction, satire, and an action-thriller, with a dash of climate-related social commentary, all at once. Although the stakes are high, the writing is light-hearted and fun, with whip-smart, witty dialogue. I enjoyed both Jane and Dan as characters; their interactions and struggles – individually, as parents, and as a couple – felt realistic. I wish the secondary characters had been fleshed out a bit more – I’ve would’ve liked to get to know some of the other diners a bit better.

While the book doesn’t get too deep or insightful, Colleen Oakley does offer up some relatable observations about marriage and parenthood. Things become a bit convoluted plot-wise in the second half of the book, but overall, this is a fun, light-hearted romp balanced with a few moments of danger and tenderness. This was my first book by Colleen Oakley, and I really like her style and will definitely dig into her backlist. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the early reading opportunity.

Marriage is hard. But finding out your husband might be cheating and getting taken hostage in the same night? That’s next-level.

Jane’s ready to call it quits with Dan after 19 years. But before she can break the news over dessert, a group of chaotic climate activists storms the restaurant—and their plan sounds way too familiar. Like, ripped-straight-from-Jane’s-failed-novel familiar. Now, she and Dan are the only ones who know what happens next, and stopping it might be the one thing that saves their marriage.

This book is wild. Hilarious, fast-paced, and somehow deeply heartfelt, it’s part hostage thriller, part rom-com, and fully unputdownable.

I adored The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, so I was BEYOND thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Oakley’s newest book! I was hooked from the first page, obsessed with the dual points of view from both Jane and Dan as they experienced an entire life’s worth of stress in one evening. Oakley’s writing style and sense of humor stand out and elevate an already excellent plot.
This book is a blend of slice-of-life, romance, and thriller. Jane and Dan have been married 19 years and are getting ready for a date night. Jane has decided they’re getting divorced, Dan is oblivious. Despite their obvious disconnect, they have an easy banter and deep connection to each other that feels incredibly realistic. As their night progresses from odd to complete insanity, they’re both reminded of the strong foundation their relationship has been built on.
And if you’re thinking “I’m really not looking for a book about a married couple reigniting their spark,” first of all, shame on you. Second, there’s also a full heist plot complete with bombs, helicopters, hackers, and a SWAT team. So there should be enough action and suspense to keep just about anyone interested!
Thanks to Berkley for the free book and Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you’ve followed Colleen Oakley’s work, you will see shades of the quirky, relatable, deeply human characters we expect from her, but Jane and Dan is clearly a “level up” in her writing prowess. This book is twisty, hilarious, introspective, and unputdownable. Somehow, she has managed to weave a tale where life imitates art, and back again. Something about this book feels deeply personal to the author, and yet manages to hit on experiences that every woman of a certain age, at a certain point in marriage and motherhood grapples with- but make it terrorists? Jane and Dan is absolute perfection, and I am grateful to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my gifted ARC.

Jane has been feeling a little stagnant. Her writing career is decidedly unsuccessful, her teenagers don’t need her anymore, and she’s pretty sure her husband Dan is cheating on her. When Jane and Dan celebrate their 19th anniversary at the exclusive La Fin du Monde restaurant (an anniversary Jane is sure will be their last), they have no idea about the turn things are about to take. Because before the second course is served, an underground climate activist group bursts in and takes everyone in the restaurant hostage. But there’s something oddly familiar about everything that’s taking place: everything the hostage takers do and say is uncannily similar to Jane’s spectacularly unsuccessful first (only!) published novel, leaving it to Jane and Dan to save the day.

This novel’s premise and execution are so quirky that I can honestly say I have never read anything else like it! As a woman at a similar stage of life, Jane is so relatable even when she’s unlikeable. Their marriage – the boredom, the bickering, the banter – feels completely authentic. The bumbling hostage takers add moments of hilarity while they try to execute their “eat the rich”-style mission. I loved how cleverly the story touched on marriage, rediscovery and reconnection, and giving your children independence all against the clever backdrop of the heist. Someone needs to make this book into a movie right now!

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Okay, okay this hilarious romcom/heist story is definitely worth all the hype!! It may not work for everyone but I thought the anniversary date gone wrong story was clever, fun and suspenseful. Married couple Jane and Dan are treating themselves to a fancy dinner only to have the restaurant get crashed by a masked group (one of whom is their daughter) who are set on robbing a billionaire. Who doesn't want to cheer for a rich guy getting swindled??

But wait, there's more, Jane is an author and her first (and only) bestseller seems to have been the inspiration for the crooks who are following its plot pretty closely which is really starting to worry Jane since her book ends with a bomb explosion that kills everyone! Sold yet?? It was also good on audio and perfect for fans of the Tina Fey and Steve Carell movie, Date Night! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Quirky, funny, and suspenseful!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a humorous, compelling read that transports you to California and into the lives of Jane Brooks, a struggling mystery writer, and her husband Dan, a somewhat successful podiatrist, whose lives get turned upside down when a terrorist group storms the swanky restaurant they won a reservation to, hold them hostage similarly to a way Jane previously wrote about in her one failed book, leaving their anniversary dinner in shambles and Jane’s request for a divorce on a temporary pause.

The prose is sharp and witty. The characters are relatable, stressed, and multilayered. And the plot unravels quickly into a riotous yet thrilling tale filled with marital drama, criminal intentions, secrets, tricky situations, spirited hijinks, danger, and hilarious mishaps.

Overall, Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a fresh, charming, laugh-out-loud funny mystery by Oakley that kept me amused and entertained from the very first page. It’s escapism at its very best, and I would, hands down, love to see it as a movie.

A date night that was supposed to be romantic turned into a disaster. Jane, married to her husband Dan for nineteen years, had something crucial to tell her him. While they were dining at a ridiculously expensive restaurant, things were about to take a turn for the worse. When a group of activists rush into the restaurant, Jane and Dan, as well as everyone else in the restaurant, become hostages in a situation that quickly goes from bad to worse. The group have what seems like an unclear purpose in mind, but violence erupts.

Showing fear at the assault, Jane’s mind wanders to other thoughts. She’s lived a life that feels fulfilled, but now, as the mother of two teenagers, she feels her identity has been erased. Not only that, she’s concerned that Dan might be having an affair.

Jane is confused. The group’s actions mimic, nearly page by page, the plot of her failed novel—her only attempt at publication. This brings a lot of fear to Jane, because her book certainly didn’t have a happy ending. Is the world as she knows it about to be over, and does she have any role in the disaster that’s in the making because of her book? But that is not the only thing that terrifies Jane. Another fact soon becomes known, a critical factor that leaves Jane with the decision to rely on Dan to get everyone out of danger.

What a fun book! In many ways, it was comedic, especially as we witness Jane and Dan’s actions regarding their marriage, which had truly begun to fail. But could this shocking series of events just bring them back together? Will they survive, not just their marriage, but literally, or will their world end? Reading this story will definitely keep you entertained.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Jane and Dan are going to La Fin du Monde to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary and Jane thinks that’s the perfect time to tell him she wants a divorce. Before they get to the second course and environmental terrorist group bursts into the dining room and they find themselves in a hostage situation. The eery thing is that the terrorists seem to be following the plot in the novel Jane wrote, which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next and they’re the only ones that can stop it.

The synopsis is what drew me to this book and I have to say I was not disappointed at all. This story moved the plot forward at a very quick pace and I blew through this novel. It was so much fun! The original premise is that Jane feels dissatisfied with her life. Her kids are growing up and she’s not needed so much at home, the novel she wrote only sold 500 copies, and she thinks her husband Dan is cheating on her. She picks the night of their anniversary dinner at an exclusive restaurant as the place where she’s going to tell her husband she wants a divorce. This opening chapter really set the stage for whether the reader was going to like Jane and Dan and I have to say that their dialogue at dinner made me love them. They were so witty and bantered just like a couple who have been married for 19 years would. There was humor, confusion, hurt, and shock. Then the terrorists arrive.

I don’t want to ruin the plot for any readers out there who plan to enjoy this book but let’s just say that as soon as Jane realizes the terrorists read her book and are following her plot, her actions become rather outrageous and add a lot of hilarity to the story. Her husband Dan is no hero, but his solid demeanor makes him seem heroic in this kind of situation. I loved how the two of them working together to save the other hostages end up saving their marriage as well. This was a totally enjoyable well rounded story and just so much fun to read.

This was such an easy and interesting read. Jane Is an author that not many people have heard of. Jane and her husband get into a situation that is very similar to the plot of her book. Not typically something I would normally read, but I liked it!

So, I won’t spoil anything, but this story was funny and interesting. Jane writes a book that maybe sold less than 500 copies and suddenly the same exact terrorist situation is happening at her 19th anniversary dinner? LOL yeahhhhhh…..

I don’t think I like the “Villains” in the story much and I feel like there could have been more suspense in the whole story. The ending was meh, I just feel like things could have been more exciting.

I like how Jane and Dan rekindle their relationship and navigate the situation together.

I definitely recommend this to someone who would like a quick and fun read.

Release Date March 11, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc!

This book was fantastic and such a fun ride! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was I thought the perspective from Kip didn't feel like it added much value to the story or he needed more of a storyline. Besides that it's a great read!

I absolutely adored this deliciously absurd tale. It’s at once fantastical and at the same time relatable, placing an average married couple dealing with average midlife issues, within a completely extraordinary situation. There’s poignance and depth but also such hilarious hijinks and more than a bit of the bizarre. I enjoyed this so much that I’ve already read it twice- first via kindle, and then next on audio. I can confirm, it’s a delight in either format.

Thank you Colleen Oakley, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

JANE AND DAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is my second book by Colleen Oakley. Her books have proven to be easy and fun to read! I love the lighthearted banter between characters despite high stakes situations.

Hostage and heists are some of my favorite thriller plots so this was right up my alley! I always love when characters have really stereotypical human flaws so it’s feels easy to put yourselves in their shoes, especially when they’re considering how to act in stressful situations.

I also loved the commentary on marriage and the second chance love story!

strong language

I enjoyed this. Jane is super relatable (albeit naggy) and the discussions about marriage are spot on. It reminded me a bit of Anxious People.

Not bad at all, but also not great. The best way I can think to summarize it is Die Hard meets The Menu (Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult). Super expensive, exclusive restaurant, hostage situation that people are trying to find a way out of. Jane and Dan’s story is at the center, with Jane growing bored in their marriage and finding texts on Dans phone that indicate he’s having an affair. The writing is good but flagged on for a bit.